Pavement marker reflector member and assembly

ABSTRACT

A pavement marker reflector member having a shell-like body of synthetic resin material, a filler material within the shell-like body and a base plate affixed to the shell-like body and including lowermost surface portions establishing a basal support for the reflector member. The reflector member may be affixed to a base member, in which case the lowermost surface portions of the base plate engage corresponding portions of the base member in a pavement marker assembly.

United States Patent 1191 Heenan etal.

[ Feb. 5, 1974 1 PAVEMENT MARKER REFLECTOR 1,910,791 5/1933 Coppel350/97 x MEMBER AND ASSEMBLY 2,371,462 3/ 1945 Nicholson. 404/ 2,627,7842/1953 Pellar 350/97 X In entors: S d ey Keenan, Park g 2,941,447 6/1960Abbott 350/97 x Norbert Majewski, Elk Grove 3,587,416 6/1971 Flanagan404/9 Village, both of 111. 3,519,327 7 1970 Nakajima 350/97 3,332,3275/1967 Heenan ..404/l6 1 1 Asslgheei Ameme Commmn, New 3,485,148 12/1969Heenan ..404/12 York, NY. Primary Examiner--Nile C. Byers, Jr.

4 72 [22] Filed Oct 19 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Samuelson & Jacob [21]App]. No.: 294,810

[57] ABSTRACT US. Cl. A pavement marker reflector member having a hell.Il'ltofsynthetic resin material a filler material [58] Field of Search404/15, 9; 350/97 within the sheluike body and a base plate ffi d to theshell-like body and including lowermost surface References Citedportions establishing a basal support for the reflector UNITED STATESPATENTS member. The reflector member may be affixed to a 1,798,4683/1931 Hartzler 404 15 x base member, in which the lowermost Surface1,599,975 9/1926 Peterson 404/15 x p o f t e base plate engagecorresponding porl,574,738 2/1926 Cretney 404/15 tions of the basemember in a pavement marker as- 1,546,146 7/1925 Shaffer 404/9 X sembly,

14 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 142 122 19a 16 23/ r44 :94 1e K 1 I I f I)20 46 M46 19 I j I -416/ v 1 104 4/ 1 If 1 Ji 1. -so I08 L [C128 ff2\136 /20 PAVEMENT MARKER REFLECTOR MEMBER AND ASSEMBLY semblies in whichreflector members may be replaced I with'relative ease when worn orotherwise deteriorated.

Pavement markers have become more widely accepted as permanentinstallations for marking traffic lanes and controlling the flow oftraffic on roadways in connection with, or in place of, conventionalpainted traffic lines. Because of their greater optical effectivenessand longer life, such markers have found wide use despite the fact thattheir initial cost has often been greater than the initial cost ofconventional painted lines. It becomes apparent, then, that pavementmarkers which could be less costly to manufacture and which would havean extended life would be even more desirable.

A variety of structural arrangements has been suggested for renderingthe reflectors of such pavement markers more durable and, in some ofthese arrangements, the reflectors are selectively replaceable. Inseveral of these arrangements a base member of relatively high strengthmaterial, such as a metal, is permanently affixed to the roadway surfaceand a reflector body of synthetic resin material is affixed to the basemember for selective removal and replacement without destruction of thebase member. In some of these pavement marker assemblies, the basemember has been provided with inclined ramps for protecting thereflector body from brutal encounters with snowplow blades when thesepavement markers are used in geographical areas where a significantamount of snow is likely to fall upon roadways.

Among the most commercially successful pavement markers developedrecently is a marker constructed with a shell-like body of moldedsynthetic resin material filled with a filler material for reinforcingthe shelllike body against the forces applied externally by contact withoncoming vehicles. These pavement markers have been permanentlyinstalled directly upon the roadway surface by affixing them to thepavement with a suitable adhesive. It has also been suggested that suchpavement markers be permanently affixed to metal base members with anadhesive. It would be advantageous, then, to have available an improvedpavement marker of the type having a filled shell-like body which can beaffixed directly to the roadway surface, or, alternately, can serve as areflector member assembled with a permanently installed, high strengthbase member in such a way that the reflector member, when worn orbroken, is readily disassembled from the base member and replaced with amore serviceable reflector member.

It is therefore an important object of the invention to provide apavement marker of the type in which a shelllike body of synthetic resinmaterial is filled with a reinforcing filler material with a base plateaffixed by said filler material to the shell-like body for establishinga basal support for the pavement marker.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pavement marker of thetype described above which can be installed directly upon the surface ofa roadway and which will exhibit greater resistance to failure from theimpact resulting from contact with oncoming vehicles than heretoforeavailable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pavement marker of thetype described above which can serve as a reflector member in a pavementmarker assembly including a base member of relatively high strengthmaterial, such as a metal, to which the reflector member is secured forselective removal and replacement.

The above objects, as well as still further objects and advantages, areattained by the invention which may be described briefly as a pavementmarker for establishing a marking visible from an oncoming vehicle on aroadway surface, the pavement marker comprising a shelllike body ofsynthetic resin material, the shell-like body having an upper surface, alower edge and at least one light-transmitting portion including anobverse light receiving surface between the upper surface and the loweredge, a filler material within the shell-like'body for reinforcing theshell-like body against forces applied externally by contact with theoncoming vehicles, a lower surface adapted to face the roadway surface,and a base plate including portions embedded within the filler materialfor affixing the base plate to the pavement marker coextensive withessentially the entire lower surface and including lowermost surfaceportions establishing a basal support for the pavement marker.

The invention will be more fully understood, while still further objectsand advantages thereof will become apparent, in the following detaileddescription of preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a pavement marker assembly employing apavement marker constructed in accordance with the invention as areflector member therein;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the pavementmarker assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional'view taken along line 33 of FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view taken:in the directionindicated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, longitudinal cross-sectional view of thereflector member employedin the pavement marker assembly of F IG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a slightly reduced bottom plan view of the reflector member ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the retainer employed in thepavement marker assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a-plan view, partially broken away, of an- I other pavementmarker assembly employing a pavement marker constructed in accordancewith the invention as a reflector member therein; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view, partially sectioned,

of the pavement marker assembly of FIG. 8. 7

Referring now to the drawing, and especially to FIGS. 1 through 4thereof, a pavement marker assembly employing a pavement markerconstructed in accordance with the invention is illustrated generally at10 and is seen to include a base member 12 constructed of a relativelyhigh strength material, such as a metal, and a pavement marker in theform of a reflector member 14 aftixed to the base member 12 by meansshown in the form of a retainer system 16.

The base member 12 extends longitudinally from a forward portion 20 toan opposite rearward portion 22 and laterally between oppositesideportions 23 carrying sidewalls 24 and 26 and spaced apart by aninterconnecting web 28.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, pavement marker assembly is adapted to beinstalled upon a roadway 30 and the base member l2has a basal plane Pwhich extends in a direction parallel with the surface, of the roadway30, when the lower surface 32 of the base member 12 is affixed to theroadway surface. The sidewalls 24 and 26 of the base member 12 areprovided with Securing means in the form of depending ribs 34 whichproject downwardly below the basal plane P and extend longitudinally toestablish lower surface portions in the form of vertical surfaces 36extending in planes generally perpendicular to the basal plane P andparallel to one another longitudinally along the body of the base member12. Ribs 34 are engaged with complementary grooves 38 in the roadway 30to affix the pavement marker to the roadway surface, preferably throughthe use of an adhesive. The additional area gained by the verticalsurfaces 36 of the longitudinal ribs 34 provides the additionalresistance to shear forces placed upon pavement marker 10 when themarker is contacted by a snowplow blade to prevent the marker from beingtorn from the roadway surface.

The base member 12 has an upper surface 40 which, in this instance,includes a planar platform 42 located upon the web 28 between a forwardlaterally extending rib 46 and a rearward laterally extending rib 48.Reflector member 14 is, in the illustrated embodiment, seated upon theplatform 42 and is located longitudinally and restrained againstlongitudinal movement by the forward and rearward abutments provided" bythe lateral ribs 46 and 48. The reflector member 14 has a lower surface52, at least portions 54 of which have a contour matching the contour ofthe platform 42 so that the reflector member 14 is seated securely uponthe platform. In this instance, the contour of such portions 54 isplanar to match the planar contour of the platform 42. Reflector member14 extends longitudinally between opposite forward and rearward portions56 and 58, respectively, and laterally between opposite side portions 60and 62, respectively, and has an upper surface 64 spaced from the lowersurface 52 thereof in an altitudinal direction to provide at least oneobverse light receiving surface 66 for receiving incident light fromoncoming vehicles and reflecting such light to establish a markingvisible at night. A second such obverse surface 68 may also be providedat the rear of the reflector member 14. Thus, the reflector member 14provides a reflector riased above the surface of the roadway 30in orderto provide a marking which may be viewed effectively at reasonableviewing distances. Additionally, the obverse surface 66 isadvantageously placed at an acute angle to the roadway surface so thatthe face of the reflector will be cleaned by wiping contact with thetires of oncoming vehicles.

Turning now. to FIGS. 5 and 6, the reflector member 14 is preferably ofthe type which has a shell-like body including a shell 70 of syntheticresin material having at least one and preferably two light transmittingportions 72 which provide the obverse surfaces 66 and 68 of thereflector. The reverse surface 74 of each portion 72 is provided with aretrodirective reflector of the cube-corner type. In this instance, theshell 70 is molded of a light-transmitting synthetic resin, such asmethyl-methacrylate, and is constructed of two like parts 76 and 78joined together at 79. In order to reinforcethe molded synthetic resinshell against forces applied to the shell by contact with oncomingvehicles, the shell is filled, or potted," with a relatively rigidfiller material seen in the form of a solid core 80 which is contiguouswith the inner surface of the shell 70 and serves to reinforce the shelland provide a solid, rugged structure capable of withstanding forcesapplied to the reflector member 14 during service. Since it isdesirable, from a structural standpoint, that the core 80 be contiguouswith the shell 70 and no voids exist between the shell and the core,reverse surface 74 is coated with a light reflecting material 82, suchas by metallizing the reverse surface in a now well-known manner, toassure that the reflecting elements will perform their assignedfunction.

In order to provide the lower surface 52 of the reflector member 14 withsurface portions 54 having a contour matching the contour of theplatform 42 of the base member 12, the reflector member preferably isprovided with a base plate 84 which includes a plurality of surfaceportions 86 having the desired configuration, in this instance, thedesired configuration being flat and planar. The base plate 84 issecured in the reflector member 14, at least in part, by the fillermaterial of the core 80 by virtue of extension of the filler materialthrough apertures 88 provided in raised portions 90 of the base plate84. The raised portions 90 establish an undulate cross-sectionalconfiguration, as viewed in FIG. 5, which provides the base plate 84with sufficient rigidity, while establishing the raised portions 90 forsecurement in the filler material and the lowermost surface portions 86for a basal support for the reflector member. The peripheral portions 94of base plate 84 extend beneath the corresponding peripheral edge 96 ofthe shell 70 so that both the shell and the core 80 are supported uponthe base plate 84. Since the base plate 84 rests securely upon theplatform 42 by virtue of the complementary configuration of portions 86of the plate 84, forces applied to the shell 70 by contact with oncomingvehicles are transmitted through the core 80 as well as through theshell 70 to the base member 12 and any tendency to break the shell awayfrom the core as a result of uneven support surfaces between thereflector member 14 and the base member 12 is essentially eliminated.The rounded contours of the undulate cross-sectional configurationprovide an advantageous stress distribution along the base plate.

In fabricating the reflector member 14, the filler material, in aviscous liquid form, is first poured into the shell 70. Then the baseplate 84 is placed on the filler. As the base plate becomes seated inplace with peripheral portions 94 juxtaposed with correspondingperipheral edge 96 of the shell 70, the filler material will extrudethrough larger apertures 88, while air is vented through small passagesprovided by smaller apertures 92 in the base plate. Upon hardening, theextensionof the filler material through apertures 88 will aidin securingthe base plate to the shell. Such materials as epoxy compounds have beenfound suitable for the formation of the core 80. The base plate ispreferably fabricated of metal, but can be made of other materials whichwill provide suitable strength and rigidity.

In the above outlined method of fabrication, the base plate 84 actuallyaids in assuring that the filler material,

while still in liquid form, fills the shell 70 without voids. In orderto seat the base plate in the shell, the base plate is urged against thefiller material toward the shell, as by merely allowing the weight ofthe base plate to pull the base plate toward the shell. As the baseplate is so urged toward the shell, the pressure upon the fillermaterial forces the filler material to entirely fill the shell, therebyeliminating any harmful voids. In particular, by making apertures 88larger than apertures 92, a

' differential pressure is created as the base plate is urged toward theshell, which differential pressure tends to force the liquid fillermaterial into the corners of the shell to assure that the shell isfilled completely without the use of excessive amounts of fillermaterial.

In addition, the filling operation itself is facilitated by the use ofthe base plate 84 in that a greater variation in the volume of fillermaterial can be accommodated. Thus, variations in the volume of theliquid filler material placed in the shell can be taken up by the volumeavailable within the raised portions 90 of the base plate. Excess liquidfiller material can be accommodated within the raised portions 90without affecting the basal contour provided by surface portions 86.

Where the reflector member 14 is affixed directly to the roadwaysurface,that is, where reflector member 14 is to serve as a pavement markeraffixed permanently to the roadway surface, rather than being mountedupon a base member for selective replacement, the base plate 84 (seeFIG. 5) tends to distribute the forces applied to the shell 70, bycontact with oncoming vehicles, over the entire support surface providedby the base plate. Where the roadway surface is soft, the pavementmarker may exhibit a tendency to sink slightly into the roadway. In apavement marker of the type having a filled shell-like body, suchsinking can result in the roadway exerting an excessive force upwardlyupon the shell itself, thus tending to peel the shell from the core offiller material. In the instant pavement marker, however, such atendency to peel, or delam'inate, the shell 70 from the core 80 iseliminated by virtue of the extension of the base plate 84 below thelower peripheral edge of the shell.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the reflector member l4,- when placedupon the platform 42 of the base member 12, is located longitudinallybetween the lateral ribs 46 and 48 and laterally between thelongitudinally extending sidewalls 24 and 26 of the base member 12, andis thus fixed relative to the roadway surface.

The reflector member 14 is secured relative to the base member 12 bymeans of the retainer system 16 having a retainer 100 which includes apair of retainer elements 102, each having a first arm 104 and a secondarm 106. The first and second arms 104 and 106, respectively, extendgenerally longitudinally between opposite ends and are spaced apartlaterally by an integral lateral leg 108 which interconnects arms 104and 106 adjacent one of the ends of each arm such that the arms and leg108 establish a U-shaped configuration. The U- shaped retainer elements102 are fabricated of a resilient material, such as steel wire, so thatthe arms 104 and 106 may be resiliently deflected relative to oneanother in an altitudinal direction, that is, in a direction which isgenerally perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the arms 104 and106 and the lateral extent of the leg 108.

Means are provided for engaging the first arm 104 of each retainerelement 102 with the reflector member 14 adjacent each side portion 60and 62 of the reflector member, these first means being illustrated inthe form of a bar 110 which is integral with the first arms 104 of theretainer elements 102 at the opposite ends 112 of the bar so thatthe-retained elements 102 are joined together by the bar 110 in aunitary structure. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the bar 110 extendsalong the upper surface 64 of the reflector member 14 between theopposite side portions 60. and 62 of the reflector member. Preferably, acap plate 114 is interposed between the bar 110 and the upper surface 64of the reflector member 14 and the bar is received within a channel 116in the cap plate 114 which, in turn, is located within a lateral recess118 in the upper surface of the reflector member (also see FIG. 5).

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, second means are provided for engagingthe second arm 106 of each retainer element 102 with the base member 12adjacent each side portion 23 thereof, the second means beingillustrated in the form of ears 120 projecting from the outer surface122 of ech sidewall 24 and 26 and establishing a downwardly facingshoulder 124. The elevation of the channel 116 is such that when thereflector member 14 is in place upon the platform 42 the channel liesabove the shoulders 124 provided by the car 120; hence, when the bar 110is placed in the channel 116 and the U-shaped retainer elements 102straddle the sidewalls 24 and 26 with the first arms 104 lying along theinner surface 126 of each sidewall and the second arms 106 lying alongthe outer surface 122 of each sidewall, the bar 110 is located above theshoulders 124 and the second arms 106 must be deflected downwardly, inan altitudinal direction, relative to the first arms 104 until thesecond arms 106 are captured beneath the shoulders 124 provided by theear 120. In order to facilitate such downward deflection of the secondarms 106, the ears 120 are provided with a beveled surface 128 whichurges the second arms outwardly as the arms 106 are pushed downwardly sothat installation of the retainer 100 can be accomplished by merelypushing downwardly upon the second arms 106.

Theresilient deflection of the first and second arms 104 and 106relative to one another in an altitudinal direction establishes aresilient retaining force which urges the reflector member 14 downwardlyagainst the base member 12. The cap plate 114 tends to spread thisretaining force over essentially the entire upper surface 64 of thereflector member 14 to reduce the possibility of a concentration ofstress within a limited portion of the shell of the reflector member. Inaddition, the cap plate 114 will protect the upper surface 64 of thereflector member 14 against excessive abrasion arising from the contactbetween oncoming vehicles and the reflector member. The bar 110 is alsoprotected from excessive abrasion by virtue of its location within therecess provided by the channel 116. In order to better distribute thedownward force provided by the retainer when the retainer is installedas illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the bar is normally bowed, as seenin FIG. 7', such that the central portion 130 of the bar is normallybelow the ends 112 of the bar. Installation of the retainer 100 willtend to deflect the bar 110 out of the bowed configuration and willthereby provide a downward force which is more evenly distributed alongthe length of the bar upon the reflector member 14. Removal of theretainer 100 for disassembly of the reflector member 14 from the basemember 12 is achieved by moving the second arms 106 outwardly to releasethe arms from beneath the ears 120. Thus, the reflector member 14 isreadily replaced.

Pavement marker 10 is constructed for service in geographical locationswhere a significant amount of snow is likely to fall upon the roadway30. Thus, the base member 12 is constructed to protect the reflectormember 14 from being gouged or stripped from the roadway surface bybeing stripped from the base member by an oncoming snowplow blade. Tothis end, the reflector member 14 is placed between the sidewalls 24 and26 with the uppermost surface of the reflector member being no higherthan the uppermost extent of the sidewalls. Each of the sidewalls 24 and26 is provided with an' inclined ramp 134 which extends from the roadwaysurface at the forward portion of the pavement marker to a verticallyuppermost portion 136 and 138, respectively, toward the rear of themarker. The uppermost portions 136 and 138 of the sidewalls 24 and 26,respectively, are at least as high as the uppermost surface of the capplate 1 14 on the upper surface 64 of the reflector member so that as asnowplow blade 140 (illustrated in phantom in FIG. 1) approaches thereflector member 14, the blade will ride up the inclined ramps 134 andwill thus be deflected away from the reflector member. It is noted thateach sidewall 24 and 26 includes an uppermost portion 136 and 138,respectively, which is generally flat and parallel to the basal plane P,the uppermost portions establishing a path for the snowplow blade 140which will ensure that the snowplow blade will completely avoid contactwith the reflector member 14.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, snowplow blades are generally angled relativeto their direction of travel so as to make an acute angle A with thedirection of travel D.

Usually, acute angle A is of the order of magnitude of about 60. Becauseof this angle A, leading portion 142 of the snowplow blade 140 willtraverse uppermost portion 136 of the sidewall 24 ahead of the traverseof trailing portion 144 of the snowplow blade 140 across the uppermostportion 138 of the sidewall 26. It has been found that if the leadingportion 142 of the snowplow blade 140 is allowed to leave the uppermostportion 136 of the sidewall 24 prior to the arrival of the trailingportion 144 of the snowplow blade at the uppermost portion 138 of theother sidewall 26 the snowplow blade 140 will experience a sudden dropwhich can result in the trailing portion 144 exerting a considerableblow upon the corresponding inclined ramp 134 of sidewall 26. In orderto prevent such a crushing blow, and concomitant damage to the ramp, theuppermost portions 136 and 138 of the sidewalls 24 and 26 are extendedrearwardly a distance great enought to assure that as leading portion142 of the snowplow blade 140 leaves the uppermost portion 136 of thesidewall 24, the trailing portion 144 of the snowplow blade will beengaged with the uppermost portion 138 of the other sidewall 26. Thus,as seen in FIG. 1, when point L on the leading portion 142 of thesnowplow blade 140 leaves uppermost portion 136, point T on the trailingportion 144 of the snowplow blade is already engaged with the uppermostportion 138.

The base member 12 must be fabricated of a material strong enough towithstand contact with the snowplow blade 140. It has been found thatbase members fabricated of pearlitic ductile iron are well suited towithstand the shock of contact with a snowplow blade and are ruggedenough to remain serviceable for a long time without being worn away bycontact with oncoming traffic, including snowplow blades. In theillustrated embodiment, the base member has been successfully fabricatedin the form of a unitary casting of ductile iron, such as pearliticductile iron (ASTM A536-65T) or ferritic nodular iron (ASTM A536-67),which was then heat treated to obtain a core hardness of about 26 to 34Rockwell C and the sidewalls, especially in the vicinity of the inclinedramps, were hardened either by induction or flame hardening, to asurface hardness of about 50 to 55 Rockwell C for a depth of about 0.050

v to 0.100 inch. The above core hardness provides the toughnessnecessary to withstand brutal encounters with snowplow blades while thesurface hardness is great enough to withstand the abrasion of thesnowplow blade as it passes over the sidewalls. The base member has alsosuccessfully been fabricated by forgmg.

Turning now to FIGS. 8 and 9, another embodiment of the invention isillustrated in the form of a pavement marker 150. Pavement marker may beemployed in areas where contact with snowplow blades is unlikely. Inpavement marker 150, the base member 152 is fabricated from a flat plate153 which provides an upper surface 154 with a portion providingaplatform 156 and a lower surface 158 that can be adhered to a roadwaysurface 160 with an adhesive 162. Forward and rearward abutments areprovided by laterally extending rails 164 struckup from the plate 153.Longitudinally extending sidewalls 166 are also struck upwardly from theplate 153 and are pierced to establish outwardly projecting tabs 168. 4

A reflector member 170, having thesame construction as reflector member14 described above in connection with FIGS. 5 and 6, is placed on theplatform 156 between the forward and rearward abutments provided byrails 164 and between the sidewalls 166. The reflector member 170 isaffixed to the base member 152 by means of a retaining system similar tothat described above in connection with FIGS. .1 through 7. A retainer172 is provided with a pair of U-shaped retaining elements 174 eachhaving a first and second arm 176 and 178 extending longitudinally andspaced apart laterally by an interconnecting leg 180. The U-shapedretainer elements 174 are interconnected by a bar 182 which extendslaterally across the top of the reflector member 170. The bar 182 isreceived within a channel 184 in a cap plate 186 which is interposedbetween the bar 182 and the upper surface of the reflector member 170,and the U-shaped retainer elements 174 straddle the sidewalls 166 sothat each first arm 176 is located between a side portion 188 of thereflector member 170 and a sidewall 166 of the base member 152 and eachsecond arm 178 extends longitudinally along the outer surface 190 of asidewall 166. The second arms 178 are each deflected downwardly, in analtitudinal direction, and are captured beneath a tab 168 such that aresultant resilient biasing force is exerted by the bar 182 in adownward direction to clamp the reflector member 170 in place upon thebase member 152. Since the tabs 168 are angled outwardly from thesidewalls 166, the upper surface 192 of each tab is angled so as to urgethe second arm 178 outwardly as the second arm is pushed downwardly tofacilitate installation of the retainer 172. Removal of the retainer fordisassembly of the reflector member 170 from the base member 152 isachieved by pushing the second arms 178 downwardly and outwardly torelease the arms from beneath the tabs 168 and out of engagement withthe shoulders provided by the lower surface of the tabs. Thus, thereflector member 170 is readily replaced.

The above detailed description of preferred embodiments of the inventionis provided by way of example only. Various details of design andconstruction may be modified without departing from the true spirit andscope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege orproperty is claimed are defined as folble from an oncoming vehicle on aroadway surface,

said pavement marker comprising:

a shell-like body of synthetic resin material, said shell-like bodyhaving an upper surface, a lower edge and at least onelight-transmitting portion in-. cluding an obverse light receivingsurface between said upper surface and said lower edge;

a filler material within said shelllike body for reinforcing saidshell-like body against forces applied externally by contact with theoncoming vehicle;

a lower surface adapted to face the roadway surface;

and

a base plate including portions embedded within the filler material foraffixing the base plate to said pavement marker coextensivewithessentially the entire lower surface and including lowermost surfaceportions establishing a basal support for the pavement marker.

2. The pavement marker of claim 1 wherein the base plate overlaps and isjuxtaposed with the lower edge of the shell-like body.

3. The pavement marker of claim 2 wherein the lower edge of theshell-like body extends around the entire periphery of the lower surfaceand the base plate overlaps and is juxtaposed with the lower edge aroundsaid entire periphery.

4. The pavement marker of claim 2 wherein the lowermost surface portionsof the base plate are coplanar and establish a planar basal support.

5. The pavement marker of claim 4 wherein the base plate includes anundulate cross-sectional configuration, said lowermost portions beinglocated at the lowermost part of the undulate configuration and saidembedded portions being located at the uppermost part of the undulateconfiguration.

6. The pavement marker of claim 7 wherein the base plate includes aplurality of apertures located at the uppermost and lowermost parts ofthe undulate configuration.

7. The pavement marker of claim 6 wherein the apertures located at theuppermost parts of the undulate configuration are larger than theapertures located at the lower most parts of the undulate configuration.

'8. A pavement marker assembly for establishing a marking visible froman oncoming vehicle on a roadway surface, said pavement marker assemblycomprismg:

a base member of relatively high strength material, such as a metal,adapted to extendin a direction which will be parallel with the roadwaysurface when the base member engages the roadway surface;

said base member having a lower surface adapted to be affixed to theroadway surface, and an upper surface, said lower surface having an areasufficient to enable the base member to withstand contact with oncomingvehicles without failure or detachment from the roadway;

a reflector member including:

a shell-like body of synthetic resin material, said shell-like bodyhaving an upper surface, a lower edge and at least onelight-transmitting portion including an obverse light receiving surfacebetween said upper surface and said lower edge;

a filler material within said shell-like body for reinforcing saidshell-likebody against forces applied externally by contact with theoncoming vehicles;

a lower surface adapted to face the roadway surface;

a base plate including portions embedded within the filler material foraffixing the base plate to said pavement marker coextensive withessentially the entire lower surface and including lowermost surfaceportions establishing a basal support for the pavement marker; and

means for affixing said reflector member to the base member forselective removal and replacement of the reflector member withoutdestruction of the base member.

9. The pavement marker assembly of claim 8 wherein the base plateoverlaps and is juxtaposed with the lower edge of the shell-like body.

10. The pavement marker assembly of claim 9 wherein the lower edge ofthe shell-like body extends around the entire periphery of the lowersurface and the base plate overlaps and is juxtaposed with the loweredgearound said entire periphery.

11. The pavement marker assembly of claim 9 wherein the lowermostsurface portions of the base plate are coplanar and establish a planarbasal support.

12. The-pavement marker assembly of claim 11 wherein the pase plateincludes an undulate crosssectional configuration, said lowermostportions being located at the lowermost part of the undulateconfiguration and said embedded portions being located at the uppermostpart of the undulate configuration.

13. The pavement marker assembly of claim 12 wherein the base plateincludes a plurality of apertures located at the uppermost and lowermostparts of the undulate configuration.

14. The pavement marker assembly of claim 13 wherein the apertureslocated at the uppermost parts of the undulate configuration are largerthan the apertures located at .the lowermost parts of the undulateconfiguration.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,790,293 Dated February 5, 1974 lnv n fl Sidney A. Heenan and NorbertMajewski It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 53, "riased" should read raised-- Column 6, line 21,"ech" should read -each Column 7, line 53, "enought" should read-enough- Claim 7, line 4, "lower most" should read -lowermost-- Claim12, line 2, "pase" should read --bases Signed and sealed this 21stdaysof May 1971+.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD PLFLETGHER, IR C PIARSEELXLL DAWN AttestingOffioer Commissionerof Patents FORM Po-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376'P69 I Q ".5. GOVERNMENTPRIITHNG OFi'ICE Z I," 0-866-894,

1. A pavement marker for establishing a marking visible from an oncomingvehicle on a roadway surface, said pavement marker comprising: ashell-like body of synthetic resin material, said shell-like body havingan upper surface, a lower edge and at least one light-transmittingportion including an obverse light receiving surface between said uppersurface and said lower edge; a filler material within said shell-likebody for reinforcing said shell-like body against forces appliedexternally by contact with the oncoming vehicle; a lower surface adaptedto face the roadway surface; and a base plate including portionsembedded within the filler material for affixing the base plate to saidpavement marker coextensive with essentially the entire lower surfaceand including lowermost surface portions establishing a basal supportfor the pavement marker.
 2. The pavement marker of claim 1 wherein thebase plate overlaps and is juxtaposed with the lower edge of theshell-like body.
 3. The pavement marker of claim 2 wherein the loweredge of the shell-like body extends around the entire periphery of thelower surface and the base plate overlaps and is juxtaposed with thelower edge around said entire periphery.
 4. The pavement marker of claim2 wherein the lowermost surface portions of the base plate are coplanarand establish a planar basal support.
 5. The pavement marker of claim 4wherein the base plate includes an undulate cross-sectionalconfiguration, said lowermost portions being located at the lowermostpart of the undulate configuration and said embedded portions beinglocated at the uppermost part of the undulate configuration.
 6. Thepavement marker of claim 7 wherein the base plate includes a pluralityof apertures located at the uppermost and lowermost parts of theundulate configuration.
 7. The pavement marker of claim 6 wherein theapertures located at the uppermost parts of the undulate configurationare larger than the apertures located at the lower most parts of theundulate configuration.
 8. A pavement marker assembly for establishing aMarking visible from an oncoming vehicle on a roadway surface, saidpavement marker assembly comprising: a base member of relatively highstrength material, such as a metal, adapted to extend in a directionwhich will be parallel with the roadway surface when the base memberengages the roadway surface; said base member having a lower surfaceadapted to be affixed to the roadway surface, and an upper surface, saidlower surface having an area sufficient to enable the base member towithstand contact with oncoming vehicles without failure or detachmentfrom the roadway; a reflector member including: a shell-like body ofsynthetic resin material, said shell-like body having an upper surface,a lower edge and at least one light-transmitting portion including anobverse light receiving surface between said upper surface and saidlower edge; a filler material within said shell-like body forreinforcing said shell-like body against forces applied externally bycontact with the oncoming vehicles; a lower surface adapted to face theroadway surface; a base plate including portions embedded within thefiller material for affixing the base plate to said pavement markercoextensive with essentially the entire lower surface and includinglowermost surface portions establishing a basal support for the pavementmarker; and means for affixing said reflector member to the base memberfor selective removal and replacement of the reflector member withoutdestruction of the base member.
 9. The pavement marker assembly of claim8 wherein the base plate overlaps and is juxtaposed with the lower edgeof the shell-like body.
 10. The pavement marker assembly of claim 9wherein the lower edge of the shell-like body extends around the entireperiphery of the lower surface and the base plate overlaps and isjuxtaposed with the lower edge around said entire periphery.
 11. Thepavement marker assembly of claim 9 wherein the lowermost surfaceportions of the base plate are coplanar and establish a planar basalsupport.
 12. The pavement marker assembly of claim 11 wherein the paseplate includes an undulate cross-sectional configuration, said lowermostportions being located at the lowermost part of the undulateconfiguration and said embedded portions being located at the uppermostpart of the undulate configuration.
 13. The pavement marker assembly ofclaim 12 wherein the base plate includes a plurality of apertureslocated at the uppermost and lowermost parts of the undulateconfiguration.
 14. The pavement marker assembly of claim 13 wherein theapertures located at the uppermost parts of the undulate configurationare larger than the apertures located at the lowermost parts of theundulate configuration.